Waited so long for this patch but no battle rating reduction on ports, why?

[Capitan Salazar]

Hello everyone,

I´m the leader of a small clan that came to this game attracted by its strategic part. Soon, we realized that we couldn´t enjoy conquest as we were asked to bring only santisimas or l´oceans (hostility missions and battles inside ports).

My clan is comprised of people with family and jobs so they can´t invest many hours to level up, look for ressorces and earn money to build so many santisimas and l´oceans. At the begining, we were 12-15 online but our members stopped logging in when they couldn´t participate in the conquests.

A few weeks ago, one of our members told us that in the incoming patch we were going to be able to participate in the battles with smaller ships. As a result, my guys were quite happy with the news and they all logged again after a long absence.

 

Now, they have quit again. And they might not return after the disappointment.

 

[Bach]

There are some options.  Without knowing you nation the following is what I can suggest in general:

Of course, you can participate in shallow battles I would assume but you want the big ones right?  So first off. Forget about building ships for PBs. You don't have the time.

Get together as a squadron and start capturing NPC ships that are bigger. Once you get one rig it for boarding. Keep using the size smaller ships until you capture enough for everyone. Then rinse and repeat up the chain till you each have a good first rate and some throw-a-ways. Park the good one and NEVER use it for PBs. Just use it to collect your next batch of throw-a-way firsts.

Get each man to produce a needed consumable and x3 preferred upgrades. Move these around in Trader Lynxes to outposts as needed or teleport ships.

As you capture your rate ships this will also have the added benefit of delivering lots of doubloons. Use these to make sure you team has the necessary admiralty skill books. 

Have each player concentrate on always using the same rate ship as much as possible. This may end up that you have a victory guy, a Santi guy and an L'Ocean guy etc.. But if you are going to get the most out of throw away PB ships you want to unlock as many skill slots as possible in the ship you sail.

Lastly, don't get freaked out that captured 1st rates aren't as good as home build 1st rates. It is true gear counts. But in NA player skill and shear number of guns firing often counts more. Toy around with some Loki runes and you will see what I mean. Good Luck!

 

[Never]

I wish the BR system was entirely dropped from Port Battles, it's never worked well. Who is still enjoying this 25 1st rate vs 25 1st battles? anyone? 
We have ship classes already we don't need Port BR at all... just have a set number of slots for each class of ship in proportion to the size and importance of the port. We could have port battles with a handful of 1st and 2nd rates and many 3rd rates. I think people would have a lot more fun.